Report: Vezenkov informed Kings he does not plan to return next season originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Sasha Vezenkov’s NBA career may be short-lived.
The Kings forward, who tried out in the NBA last season with Sacramento, has informed the Kings that he does not intend to return for the second year of his contract, Eurohoops Greek journalist Mihalis Stefanou reported on Saturday.
The decision is currently “open” on whether Vezenkov will continue his basketball career in the NBA or return to Europe, Stefanou added.
After shining in the EuroLeague, Vezenkov signed a two-year, $20 million contract with Sacramento and tested the waters in the NBA. But his first experience in the best basketball league in the world was no walk in the park.
Vezenkov has been in and out of Kings coach Mike Brown’s rotation, recording nearly a dozen DNPs (Did Not Play).
He also treated back to back ankle injuries which sidelined him for almost 30 games.
In 42 games last season, Vezenkov averaged 5.4 points on 44 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent 3-point shooting while adding 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes.
Throughout the season, Vezenkov was honest with self-assessment of his progress in the NBA.
“I’m trying,” Vezenkov told reporters in November. “I’m trying to study the game, study the players. I’ll never be a lockdown defender, let’s be honest – but I want to be solid. I want to try to help the team and not be exposed. And I think I’m improving with each game.
“But I don’t want to talk about myself when they scored 131 points, there’s a lot you can say. We didn’t play good defense today, guys. So we have to see where we can improve.”
The progress was definitely there and, like any NBA rookie, so were the difficulties.
Brown also acknowledged that it would take some time for the sharpshooter to adjust to the league.
“It’s still a work in progress. I continue to see glimpses of him playing at a high level and see how he can impact the game on both ends of the court,” Brown said in November. “It’s going to take time. It’s going to take time for him to adjust to the league and it’s going to take time for us to adjust to him and vice versa. He’s going to have good games and he might have a bad game here or there. But he’s a guy who knows how to play. He really wants that.
“And obviously he has to be protected on the offensive end of the court. He does a lot of little things like rebounding and boxing guys out and trying to be in the right position to help, which doesn’t really show up all the time. the stat sheet. This is what can help you get over the hump and give you more playing time if you continue to do this at a high level.
The standout EuroLeague forward averaged 17.2 points per game while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3-point range in 38 games played for Olympiacos. He ranked second in the league in rebounds (6.8) and 2-point field goals (4.4).
He was named the EuroLeague Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season.
Despite his supposed desire to leave the NBA for now, the decision is not up to Vezenkov. The Kings would have to release him, as he has a guaranteed $6.6 million year for the 2024-25 season. Sacramento has a team option for 2025-26 for $6.9 million.
And while his EuroLeague success didn’t transfer directly to the NBA, Vezenkov never lacked courage and effort when his number was called. And just like Kings general manager Monte McNair and Co., it appears Vezenkov has a tough decision to make this offseason.
